Couldn’t Treat “Your Dog,” Says DIF Director About PIP Clinics; PIP Reform Bills Keep Moving

“When people have broken bones and they are bleeding, they don’t go to these clinics. You wouldn’t take your dog to these clinics.”  This was part of the passionate testimony by Col. John Askins, Director of the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), Department of Financial Services.

Askins testified this past Wednesday, before two House subcommittees, in support of reforms to Florida’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurance laws. His remarks also included his belief that: “It’s all 100 percent fraud. …It is clinic driven…It’s like trying to get rid of the drug problem. It’s that pervasive.”

Florida PIP anti-fraud website

An insurance industry website publicizing Florida PIP fraud - "Insurance Fraud: Uncovered" - has been launched at www.insurancefrauduncovered.com/  There are tabs for "Case Files" (which illustrate actual claims involving fraud), Florida "Fraud Facts," and Florida fraud "News."  The website is sponsored by Property Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI) "to expose and fight insurance fraud in the state of Florida."

From InsuranceFraudUncovered.com

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Posted by Perry Cone, at www.TallyInsLaw.com/

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

PIP beginning to get attention

Since its sunset and revival, personal injury protection auto insurance (PIP) has taken a way-back seat to property insurance issues.  Now PIP is beginning to get airtime.  The most recent developments are:

• Florida's new Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater, barely a week after taking office, posted on his web a “pledge[] to fight insurance fraud.”
• The Miami Herald published PIP: The insurance that crooks can't stop scamming (Jan. 15, 2011).
• The Orlando Sentinel published an article on PIP attorneys fees, Legal battles over tiny sums may be costing you big bucks (Jan. 24, 2011).
• The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee will take up PIP fraud at its meeting on Wednesday, January 26.
• The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has initiated a PIP data call, directed to the top 25 PIP writers.

III Slides on Auto Fraud in Florida

The Insurance Information Institute (III) has released its informative slide presentation on Auto Insurance Fraud in Florida, Stats & Facts.  Lynne McChristian made this presentation at a Fraud Coalition Meeting in Tallahassee in October 2010.